Tuesday, 7 July 2015

Power To The People! in 20mm

Yes, the revolution is on! Wayne Bollands at Wargames Illustrated contacted me recently and asked if I'd like to write a wargamer's guide to Winter of '79 for inclusion in the magazine later this year. Can't tell you how chuffed I am to be asked, especially as it came at a time when I had just opened this new chapter of my life. The result has been a welcome boot up the bum to get a move on!

I'd like to introduce you to our new protagonist and erstwhile protector of the people, 'Badger' Smith of the Tooting Bec Popular Front!

Badger Smith of the Tooting Bec Popular Front
My own conversion of a RH Models' Uzi toting figure
Painted by Mark Griffin, Pumpkin Models

The Tooting Bec Popular Front
A mix of RH Models and Platoon 20 conversions
Painted by Mark Griffin, Pumpkin Models

 Urban Revolutionaries
More RH Models and Platoon 20 conversions
Painted by Mark Griffin, Pumpkin Models

All but one of the figures are 20mm from either RH Models or Platoon 20. Most were straight forward head and/or weapon swop conversions. I love doing these conversions as they add that little bit extra character that's out of the norm. The Tooting Bec Popular Front all sport Fulham FC scarves made from Green Stuff.  Whilst 'Badger' himself saw me adding lashings of Green Stuff to create the Afghan coat, long hair, raised fist and finally scarf to an Urban Meltdown figure which had been given a suitably selected beret head taken from a Falklands era figure.

Mark Griffin of Pumpkin Models has helped me out with the painting. Mark is a great guy and in this case, the brief I gave him for the miniatures was for '70's urban chic'. Greys, muted colours, jeans/denim and either German Army combat jackets or Italian/Portuguese camo jackets - both of which were readily available in most high street army surplus stores at the time. I think he's done a great job of interpreting my wishes, don't you?

The photos above were supplied by Mark and represent work in progress to allow me to correct anything before varnishing. In this case I'll be finishing the basing myself with an urban theme. More to come.

Cheers
Mark

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8 comments:

  1. Pete.7 July 2015 at 02:39

    Great news - it will make the magazine worth buying.

    The Urban Revolutionaries are very nice as are the others- sadly 'Citizen Smith' was before my time....

    Cheers,

    Pete.

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  2. commissarmoody7 July 2015 at 03:04

    Nice to see that your labor of love is being recognized.

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  3. Gavin Syme (GBS)7 July 2015 at 08:38

    Excellent. Love that programme. Hope you are well Mark.

    Gavin.

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  4. Nick Marshall7 July 2015 at 09:18

    Great news about the article. I came across this video on FB which shows pretty much all the Winter of '79 period military hardware

    https://www.facebook.com/ColdstreamKit/videos/vb.1385305665064617/1603936566534858/?type=2&theater

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  5. Unknown7 July 2015 at 10:11

    Excellent conversions and great painting! This sort of originality makes Winter of 79 so appealing to me. Although you can't knock lashings of DPM either… ;)

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  6. MarkG7 July 2015 at 12:18

    Great looking figures. German army jackets in Army Surplus stores, I do recall them being popular but never had one myself, great stuff. :) Wolfie Smith would be proud!

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  7. Mark7 July 2015 at 23:22

    Thank you all for such positive responses.

    Cheers
    Mark

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  8. Phil9 July 2015 at 22:00

    I hope Rolf brings out those ISD figures soon, useful for all sorts of things.
    I sold all my 'Winter of 79' suitable figures but may have to re-start the project if I keep reading your blog!

    ReplyDelete

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